Participation of the Judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Viktor Horodovenko in the 20th plenary session
of the Consultative Council of European Judges
On November 6-8, 2019 Judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Viktor Horodovenko participated in the 20th plenary session of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) in Strasbourg (France).
On November 8, 2019, the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), an advisory body to the Council of Europe on the independence, impartiality and competence of judges, celebrated its 20th anniversary. The CCJE is a unique European body composed exclusively of judges. The CCJE's opinions include specific proposals, in particular to improve the status of judges and enhance citizens' access to justice. The CCJE opinions are applied in the preparation of national regulations, as well as in the administration of justice, and are a benchmark for judges, judicial and self-governing bodies.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary, the President of the Consultative Council of European Judges, the President of the Supreme Court of Croatia, Duro Sessa, moderated the exchange of views between the members of the CCJE and the President of the European Court of Human Rights Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos. The main topics of the discussion were the independence of judges and the contribution of the Consultative Council of European Judges to the work of the European Court of Human Rights.
In addition, during the 20th plenary session of the Consultative Council of European Judges, Opinion No. 22 on the role of judicial assistants was adopted. The purpose of this Opinion is to establish a structure of judicial assistants who play an important role in guaranteeing the right to a fair trial in accordance with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
For example, the Opinion No. 22 lists the situations that substantiate the employment of judicial assistants, reveals how judges and assistants cooperate, the nature of the assistants' tasks, their status, the order of appointment, and the various aspects related to their careers. This Opinion will support the independence and impartiality of judges in the exercise of their powers.
The representative of the Consultative Council of European Judges in respect of Ukraine Viktor Horodovenko informed the audience about changes in the legislation of Ukraine on judiciary and status of judges. He also addressed other pressing issues related to the implementation of reforms in the judiciary of Ukraine.
Representatives from Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, as well as observers from the Bar Association of Europe, the Federation of European Administrative Judges, the European Association of Judges attended the session.
